SouthWest Wind Power showed off their latest turbine – the Skystream 600 – this week at CES 2011, and we’re impressed. The latest in SouthWest’s long line of turbines, the Skystream 600 is equipped with a unique Skyview system that can be accessed via the internet to provide users with information about how much energy it is producing in real time. In fact, the turbine is said to be so efficient that it produces 74% more energy than its predecessor – the Skystream 3.7.

The SkyStream 600 is estimated to average about 7,500 kWhs of energy per year with an average wind speed of 12mph. However it is the fact that the turbine provides ‘real time’ information that is most interesting. This feature makes it the first “fully smart grid-enabled wind turbine” and it is expected to be popular when released in April.

While the price has yet to be announced, households that are interested in diversifying their energy supply would do well to consider this item. Not only is it expected to be cheaper than solar panels, but wind power efficiency is growing each year and anticipated to become the leading form of domestic renewable energy.

Improved power outputs of domestic wind turbines would have little effect on meeting carbon reduction targets in the UK. Why? Well, 90% of us live in towns or cities (the second most urbanised EU country after Belgium), which will rarely see 12mph wind speeds. However, we do have the largest coastline (per m2 inland area) of European countries, suggesting focus on the decarbonisation of the grid, in part using offshore wind turbines, would be a much better strategy of reducing carbon emissions than through microgeneration. In fact, I have blogged on this: www.sustainability-inside-out.blogspot.com

Sorry, but you swallowed a bunch of sales department hype. There's nothing new in this larger version of the five year old SkyStream design that would justify it being the "first fully smart" small wind turbine. Other manufacturers have offered internet monitoring systems for years and so has Southwest Windpower. It produces 74% more energy because its ~ 74% larger, not because its 74% more efficient (which would violate the "Betz Law" efficiency limit). Wait until you can get a price, certified performance figures following AWEA standards, and the warranty terms - then you can judge how competitive this new model is against the many other good small turbines on the market.